Elevator



Sept. 4 1945. s. M. MERCIER ELEVATOR s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1944 PM ECCEHTEIC To SHAFT.

INVENTOR; STANLEY MQMERQER,

ATT'Y Sept. 4, 1945. s. M. MERCIER ELEVATOR Filed May 2, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,'- STANLEY M. MERGER,

Sept. 4, 1945. s. M. MERCIER ELEVATOR Filed May 2, 1944 3 Sheets-Shet 3 144 INVENTOR, 5TANLEY M. MERGER,

ATT 'Y Patented Sept. 4, 1945 ELEVATOR Stanley M. Mercier, Bexley, Ohio, assignor to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application May 2, 1944, Serial No. 533,718

8 Claims.

vide a device of the above-mentioned type to which the floating foot shaft is connected, said pivotal frame being so mounted that the floating shaft may move in a straight line and in which the pivotal frame may be provided with a counter-balance and if desired may also be provided with an indicating device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved elevator or conveyor with a seal of the above-mentioned type together with means to cause the seal mechanism to have a cyclic motion with respect to the conveyor casing or housing to prevent sticking thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wheel structure preferably insulated in part in which provision is made for expansion of the rim thereof with respect to thehub .or central portion thereof.

' Other objects of the invention will appearhereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying'drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an elevator or conveyor incorporating the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view through the axis of the foot shaft of the con veyor showing one end of the foot shaft and associated structure;

Fig. 3 is a sectional. plan view showing one end of the foot shaft and associated apparatus, the view, being taken substantially at right angles to the view of Fig. 2, this viewshowingparticularly the sealing means for said foot shaft;

. Fig. 4 is an elevational view of one ofthe wheels of the foot shaft, part of the wheel being broken away; V

Fig. '5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified structure;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified structure and showing certaindetails insection which are not shown in section in Fig.3; and

Fig. '7 is a combination sectional and elevational view of a guide for a gro p of springs.

This application is a continuation in part of my application for an Elevator, Serial No. 500,799, filed September 1, 1943. It is to be understood that throughout, the disclosure of this application follows'thatof my parent application, above identified, unless a contrary fact isdistinctly indicated in the drawings or specification.- p

The conveyor or elevator i illustrated as a whole in Fig. 1 of the drawings and comprises a vertical .or upwardly extending tower or main frame .20 which is generally rectangular in cross section and at each of the four corners includes a vertical or upright structural member such as a channel 2|. Each of the channels 2| in the finally assembled condition of'the main frame constitutes a continuous upright member which extends from the foot or bottom of the main frame 20 to the top thereof. At their bottoms, the channels 2i are provided with feet 22 preferably rigidly attached to base members which may, for example, be mounted on a poured concrete base sunk sufficiently in the ground to provide a firm foundation. At their tops the channel members 2| are rigidly connected together by side I-beams '23, and .cross channels 24,. all of said structural members H, .23 and 24 being rigidly connected together. ,Along the sides, each of the two front and rear channeljwmembers 2| are connected by one; or more diagonal braces 25 as well as by horizontal angle braces 26.

I Mounted upon the I-beams 23 at the top of the main frame 20 is a pair of bearing boxes29 whichsupport' a horizontally extending head shaft 30 which carries a pair. of headsprockets which support and drive a pair of endless chains 33 of a bucket elevatoror; conveyor mechanism 34. Ex-

tending .between the two chains 33 and carried thereby is a plurality of buckets 35 (see Fig.2), saidbuckets being rigidly attached adjacent their sides'to the inner side bars of thechains 33 by appropriate brackets or attachments 36. At: the foot or bottom of the toweror main frameill there isafoot shaft 31 which is disclosed in detail in Fig. 2 of the .drawingsand which is describedmore completely hereinafter. For the moment it may .be'pointed out thatthe foot. shaft 31 carries afoot shaft assembly 38 including a pair of spaced traction .wheels which receive .thejtwo endless chains 33.

Supported by the main frame and generally within the structural members thereof, there is ,aItotally enclosinghousing or casing. 40 which includesras the three principal parts a head section llmafootsection "and a pluralltyof intermediate sections 61; All of thesesections are preferably formed at least ,in part of insulating material so that the enclosing housing or casing is insulated against heat. Also the head section I 4! is provided with a discharge spoutor chute 42 by which material is discharged from the conveyor 34. i e

The foot part or section 41 involves-a number of important details of construction. In the first material, similar tothe material 5I, which is 35 at the bottom of the feed run of the conveyor mechanism 34. Furthermore, the foot section or part 4'1 includes structureproviding a gas tight mounted for substantiallyQ'figee vertical m ovee ment through a limited range so as to compensate for changes in the lengths of the chains 33,

dust and heat seal for the foot shaft '31 which is 5 supports. a pair 'of continuous strips of gasket material 63 against which the steel plate 6I conparticularly under the influence oftemperature 9 changes. Furthermore, it may be pointedio-ut that the main frame adjacent the foot sectional is provided with considerableauxiliary equipment, as hereinafter described more completely;

Attention is now directed to Figs. 1 2 and '3 of the drawings and'to the structure of the foot part or section of casing 41 and associatedapparatus which provides the 'gas tight heat and dust 'seal whileproviding for floating vertical movement ofthe foot shaft 31. 1 7

Referring particularly toFigs.;2 and3 of the drawings which illustrate structure which is duplicated on each side of the elevator, it will be seen that the housing or casing 40 in'this section includes a steel or metal sidep'latelitl which is attached to the adjacent portion of-th'e-mainjframe 1 or tower 20. Rigidly attached to the side plate 50 and {forming the lining ofthis portion'of the casing or housing 40 is a heavy plate of'insulating material 5I which is the same in' texture as'the insulating material used throughout most of the casing 40 to provide the insulating lining thereof and is preferably in the form ofa-molded insulating material having high insulation characteristics; The metal plate SB afnd the insulating material 5I are provided with a -vertical elongated slot 52 which is provided with-a metal frame 53, rigidly attached to the plate 5 as byweldingl -'The foot shaft 31 extends throughfithe slot 52 and frame 53 and is mounted to move freely in a vertical. direction therein. v 'On theoutside ot :the plate 50 and adjacent the slot 52 is a stationary box structure which is :formed by a pairsoi spaced vertical angle members 55 ('see Fig. 3) which a are rigidly attached. to the plate-56 by appropriate bolts.. Rivetedjo the an'glelmembers 55 and extending across the outer free ends thereof is a U-shaped cover 'plate.-56; Both the top and bottom of the cover plate 56 are'provided with angle members whichjextend between the upright angle members 55 and; are rigidlycon nected thereto as well-as to theplate, 50 and the cover plate 56. The bottom'of these 'ang'le members is seen at 51 in Fig. 2.0f the drawin gs; It is thus seen that the angle members 55;.and 51 and the U.-shaped cover platex56 cooperate. to provide an enclosing stationary boxadjacent the 5101152 and this stationary-box is provided with an elongated slot similar tosthe; slot-:52 ;--which is defined 'byaborder framelmemberja, vwhich frame member 58 is rigidly attached thereto as by screws and. includes a centralelongated slot '59,

Mounted'on the foot shaft131: to moveupwardly and downwardly therewith while at thesame time ment within the aforedescribed box formed by anglemembers 55 and 51 and cover plate 56. In cooperation with the side plate 50 means are pro- 10 vided so as to effecta substantially continuous insulating wall to seal the slot 52 for all. positions "of adjustment of the shaft 31. 7 To this end the inner periphery of the frame member 58 is prov,vldecl with a continuous groove which carries and V tinuously bears and has a slidingrelation, thus providing ail-effective seal along this line of contact while permitting free sliding movement of the composite plate 60-6l.

Furthermore, the steel plate-5| extends around its entire jperiphery beyond: the insulation plate 60 and theframe 62 and; provides abutment or bearing areas for a plurality of coil springs 64 which are received by spaced guide .posts 65 welded to a floating rectangular frame 66made from an angle member which is bent or otherwise formed in a rectangle. The bottom of said frame 66 has frictional sliding contact with the side plate 50, the c'iutwardlyv extending flange of which overlaps the frame 62 'sothatfas the composite plate 6I62' moves up and down, it will carry the floating frame; 66 held in frictional contact with the side plate 50. The overlapping flange of the frame '66 has'a relatively close fit .with the framesofas-ito provide an efiective seal therewith, though there. is sufficient clearance between the two to .provide for their relative movement along a horizontal .a'xis.; It is there- 4-0 fore seen that there is a double seal between the slot 52 and the atmosphere, one seal being provided by the cooperation of floating frame 66 with the side plate '50 and: with-the'frame 62, the other sealbeing provided by the insulating strip 63inc'coperation with the steel plate 5|.

7 -..Attent ion is now directed particularly to the structure of the'ioot shaftva'ssembly 38 and the mechanism for mounting thexfootl'shaft'sl for vertical adjustment in thesl'ots 52-. The struc- 5 ture illustrated in Fig. 2 is duplicated on each side of the unitki'; r

The foot shaftassembly 3 il includes at each,

side a traction wheelai39'; the. structure of which is illustrated in detail in Figs; 2 and '4 of the drawings. Said wheel 39 includes a'hub' I33 and a plain ring type rim. I34, the hub andrim being split, "the'foriner being'assembled and clamped to the ishaft31 by a pairof elongated bolts i35, I

the sections of rim I34 being connected by spaced Ibolts I38; Interconnectingthehub i 33 and rim I34 is a'plurality 'of'yoke type spokes [31. It i'si "to be" noted that all -of the spokes I 31 extend from the hub I 33 120 the 'rim' I 34 a similar: manner and each is offset from'the' radial to provide for relative expansion between thehub; I33 and the rim I34;- To "aid in'. this expansion the opposite ends of each spoke I37 are pivotTally attached to the hub I33 and ring l'3ll byQrivetsriSt and I39, respectively. It is evident that if the ring v 7 79 I34 should expand under the influence of the which slotfllil is somewhat widerthan the slot 52. p I

heat in' the ca's'iri g lfi'it will be free'to1do s0 and the spokes I31 will swingabout their pivotpoints and move toward aradial positiqn' Conversely, should the rimLI34 c'o ritract the spokes I3'i wgiil'd ,move farther" away from t he' r adial position.

' cooled.

Furthermore, the rim I34 is slightlyeccentric to its. axis of rotation, which is the axis of; shaft 31; for a. purpose hereinafter set forth indetail.v

The construction provided is such as toc'ompensate readily for temperature .variations. to which the wheel 39 is subjected, and to take care of the fact that. shaft 31 is cooled while the rim I34, is hot while the conveyor is in operation. The hub. I33 and the major portion of each of .the spokes I31 are embedded in adrum. or in sulat-ing material I 40 which is built up of a plurality of axially separable sections held together by longitudinal tie rods MI. The drum I40 is also split along a plane passing through the axis of shaft 31, the parts being held together by tie bolts not shown.

The insulating material which is between the spokes. I31 may be plastic in form whenthe foot shaft assembly-38 is originally assembled-and it will become hard under the influence of the heat to which it is subjected.

Each end of the shaft 31 extends through'a' round hole in the insulation plate 60 and the attached steel plate 6|, as previously described, and a stuffing box I42 is attached to the'plate- 6I which provides a seal between said shaft 31 andsaid steel plate 6| adjacent this opening. Each end of shaft 31 is also supported in a journal bearing I43 which is of the totally enclosed type and which is mounted in a beam I44. two beams !44 on opposite sides of the casing 49 are preferably placed inside the main frame 20 and constitute the two side members of a box like frame I45 (see Fig. 1) the structure of which is described more completely hereinafter. V

Mechanism is provided for cooling each of the bearings I43. To this end, the shaft 37 is hollow and there is a fitting I46 adjacent each' end thereof which is received in a collar I41 clampedto the shaft 31, there being a packing ring and associated packing gland I48 to provide a water seal between the cylindrical outer surface of the fitting I46 and the collar I41, as well as with the rotating shaft 37. The fitting I46 is stationary and is supported by a bracket I49 which is connected to the beam I44. Connected'to the fitting I46 is a pipe I50 the outside surface of which is spaced inwardly from the bore ,II of, the hollow shaft 31. I52. is connected through fitting I46 to the interior of pipe I50 and water discharge elbow I53 is connected by fitting I46 to the passageway formed on the outside of the pipe I50 and the surface of bore I5I. The two pipes I50 which extend from opposite sides of the assembly 36' are connected together by a pipe I54 (Fig. 2 which telescopes with the two pipes I56 and is riveted to them. This pipe I54 is provided with radial bores I55 providing ports to permit the feed wa ter on the interior of the pipes I50 to flowout wardly into the return passageways between the outside of pipes I50 and the inside of hollow shaft 31. A brass helix I56 surrounds each pipe I50 and is rigidly attached thereto and spaced a very. small amount from the wall of bore I5I;t o provide an elongated helical path for thecooling water, causing it to scour the interior surface of the hollow shaft I5I and thus to cool it. It is, to be noted that the cooling path of this foot. shaft .311: extends appreciably into the assembly andconsequently the interior thereof will .be

- Attention is now directed particularly to Fig; 1. of the drawings-'amd to the construction The Cooling water feed'elbow r provideslfor the floating vertical relation of the foot shaftassem'bly'fl; The box like frame I is pivotally mounted at its rear on two pivot points one. of which is seenat I51, said. pivots l5'l'being mounted on rollers which roll'between the top and bottom guides I58. As a consequence, as the frame I45 pivots about said pivots I51 they move in a horizontal plane to provide for vertical or rectilinear instead of .arcuate travel of the. shaitI-ll- 'Itcis, of course, evident'that thezaxis of' pivots I51 is. parallel with the axis ofshaft 31. l r 5 It is also 'desirableto'indicate the position-of theframe I45 and, as a consequence, of theshaft 3'I.in"a slot52. To'ithisend one of the frame beams is provided with a. pointer I59 which cooperates'rvith a stationary scale I60 attached to the main frame 20 and indicates directly the position of lthe frame I45. It. is, ofcourse, obvious that'in View of the great height of the elevator or conveyor there will [be an exceedingly heavy load on the head shaft 30 andwon the links of chains 33 at the upper ends since they must support the weight. of substantially theentire conveyor mechanism 34. In order not to increase this load further, the frame I45 and the foot shaft assembly 38 is substantially counterbalanced by means of a. counterbalanacing weight I6I preferably mounted in a housing I62 and suspended from one or more cables I63 which is reeved over a pulley I64 which may be hooked to any frame structure and attached to a double diameter drum I65. One or more suspension ca-. bles or rods I66 extend from the small diameter of the drum I65 to the free end of the frame I45. :The double. cylindrical drum I65 operates as a moment multiplier to reduce the necessary weight of the counterbalancing weight I6I.

In order to prevent damage to the unit,'and also to insure its proper operation, it is neeessaryto prevent the sealing plate 60-6I becoming stuck, particularly in an elevated position. To prevent such sticking is the purpose of making the outer surface of rim I34 slightly eccentric relative-to.

the axisv or outer surface of shaft 37. As 'a con sequence of this eccentricity, duringoperation (if the conveyor mechanism 34 the shaft 31 will be cyclically continuously moved upwardly and downwardly a slight amount thus preventing the stickingof said sealing plate 606| to any adjacent structure. This, of course, also prevents sticking of the frame 66 to plate 50-.

' In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there are shown certain features which have been modified as compared withthose above described. It is to be understood, however, that unless a contrary fact is indicated the structure of Figs. 5 and 6 follows that above described and disclosed particularly in Figs. 2, 3 Land 4. Only those structural features illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

There is a further modification particularly in themechanism for pressing the floating frame 66 against the plate 50 and simultaneously pressing the steel plate 6] against the seal strips 63; This modified mechanism includes a similar structure along each side of theframe .62 and cooperating withthe opposite vertical. edges of" the. plate it ber of pads I69 and associated pins springs'l13 spaced from the tops to the bottoms of the spring holders I61.

no insulation comparable with insulation 1 has been provided; Under certain circum- 1 air through the slot 52.

the eccentricity of the rim leiofthe wheel 39 1 with respect to its axis of rotation is'maintained.

ibuckets 35 dischargingit .at chute 42.

' shaft 31. 1 Boxlike frame move with the. shaft 31 and its movemenafor 7 provided with spaced pads I69.. Each pair of complementary holders I 61 is supported from the plate 59 in a'vertical or upstanding position by a pair ofspaced bolts I1Ilprovided with sleeves which extend into holes in lugs Hi, there being a pair of lugs I1I on each holder I61, .onenear the .top and one near the bottom. It is thus evident that there is a pair of complementary holders I81 along each edge of the sealing mechanism and one of each of said'pair of holders abuts a vertical edge of plate 6| and the other abuts a'vertical portion .of the floating frame 66. Each of these complementary spring holders I61thus has a plurality of pads I69, one set of pads contacting the floatingframe 66, the other set contacting the plate 6I adjacent an upright edge. Since the two holders I61 of each complementary pair. are free to move a limited amounttoward and from each other by virtue of the sliding relation between their lugs Ill and the supporting boltsllfi they will press the floating frame 66 against the plate 59 and also press the plate 6| against the strips 63 while providing for sliding movement therebetween as dictated by the up and down movement of the shaft 31 by virtue of the eccentricity of the rim I34 and also 66 and the frame 62 of insulating material 69,

by virtue of the expansion and contraction of.

the chains 33.. To effect this sealing action each .pad I69 of each spring holder I61 includes complementary split pin means I12, that is, the pins plementary spring holders I61 apart thus aidin I in effecting the sealing action above described. It

is, of course, evident thatthere willbe a num- I12 and There is another modification of the structure as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 as compared with that of- Figs. 2 and 3. It hasbeen'foun-d that in'some installations it is not absolutely necessary to insulate the shaft 31 and the wheel 39,

consequently in the structure of Figs. '5 and 6 I40 stances it may even be desirable to eliminate the insulation 6 but it will still be desirable to provide the seal to prevent entrance 'of dirt as Well To review'briefiy the operation of the device in both modifications, when the elevator is running the conveyor mechanism 34' receives material from the feed chute 48 and carries it in the By virtue of the eccentricityof the rims I34 of wheels 39 the shaft 31 together with those parts which any'sticking of the sealingmechanismfor the I45 will, of course,

example as registered by indicator 'I59--I69,.will

the. other being between the pads 63 and the plate, BI. The .sealing'mechanism however, is

relatively-free to slide upwardly and downwardly with the frame 66 sli'dingfoverthe p1ate 50 and the plate 6I sliding over the pads. 63. Cooling of the shaft 31 by fluid orliquid cooling mechanism prevents burning out of the bearing I43.

Obviously those skilled in the artmay make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and I wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise closed. a

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure b Letters Patent of the United States is: 2

1. In an elevating conveyor, an enclosin housing, endless chain conveyor mechanismin said housing including a head shaft, 2. second shaft extending through said housing, means providing a slidable seal between said second shaft and said housing, and means including an eccentric wheel; on said second shaft for moving 7 said slidable seal cyclically upwardly anddownwardl to prevent sticking thereof when said conveyor mechanism is in operation.

2. In an elevating conveyor, an enclosing housing, endless chain conveyor mechanism in said housing including :a head shaft, a second shaft extending through said housing. means providing a slidable seal between said second shaft and said housingyand" means for moving said slidable seal cyclically upwardly and downwardly to prevent sticking thereof when said conveyor mechanism is in operation.

3. In a conveyor, a casing having side walls of material providing heat insulation,' conveyor mechanism in said casing including a conveyor shaft extending through an opening in said casing and movable upwardly and downwardlyrel ative thereto, means providing a seal between said shaft and casing including a plate having material providing heatinsulation and having an"opening through which said shaft extends, said plate moving upwardly and downwardly withsaid shaft while' providing for rotation thereof, spring pressed means providing aseal between said plate and said casing while pro-' viding forsliding movement of saidplate over said casing, andmeans including-an eccentric wheel on said shaft for causing up and down movement of said shaft and plate when said conveyor mechanism is operating.

4. .Ina conveyor, a casing having side walls of material providing heat insul'ation, conveyor mechanism in said casing including a conveyor shaft extending through an opening in I said casing 'andxmovable upwardly and downwardly relative'thereto, means providing a seal'between sa'idsha'ft and casing including. a platehaving material providing heat insulation and having an openingthrough which said shaft extends,- said plate moving upwardly and downwardly with said shaft while providing for rotation thereof, spring pressed means providing .a seal between said plate and said casing while providing for sliding movement. of saidplate over said casing, and-.means for causing cyclic. up and construction herein dis- 7 down movement of said shaft and plate when said conveyor mechanism is operating.

5. An elevator including a casing, a conveyor therein including a foot shaft extending through said casing, seal means for said shaft including a plate contacting said casing and movable with said shaft, and a foot wheel on said shaft having a rim eccentric to the axis of said shaft whereby said shaft moves upwardly and downwardly as it rotates.

6. A conveyor including a casing, a conveyor shaft extending through an opening in said casing, a seal plate around said shaft slidable over said casing, a guide for said seal plate, said seal plate being movable between said guide and casing, spring means extending between said guide and seal plate and pressing said seal plate to sealing position, said spring means including opposed elongated abutment members abutting said seal plate and said guides with aligned split pins formed in two parts on said opposed members, and springs surrounding said pins and pushing said members apart.

7. A conveyor including a casing, a conveyor shaft extending through an opening in said casing, a seal plate around said shaft slidable over said casing, a guide for said seal plate, said seal plate being movable between said guide and easing, spring means extending between said guide and seal plate and pressing said seal plate to sealing position, said spring means including opposed elongated abutment members abutting said seal plate and said guides with aligned split pins formed in two parts on said opposed members, springs surrounding said pins and pushing said members apart, and means supporting said members in opposed upright positions while providing for relative movement thereof toward and from each other.

8. A conveyor including a casing, spaced wheel means, endless conveyor means supported on said spaced wheel means, shaft means for one of said wheel means extending through said casing, a sliding seal between said shaft and casing, the wheel associated with said shaft being eccentric whereby said seal slides cyclically relative to said casing as said conveyor means operates.

STANLEY M. MERCIER. 

